Sunday, July 24, 2011

Waterfront Station was built for the CPR

Waterfront Station was built in 1914 to serve as the railway terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway. From here passenger trains ran to Montreal and Toronto.

The last transcontinental departed Waterfront in 1979. At that time Via Rail amalgamated CNR and CPR operations. Passenger trains still run from the Via Station on Terminal Avenue.

The style of Waterfront Station is neoclassical, red brick with Ionic columns. Around the inside walls, just below the lofty and ornate ceiling are painted scenes of Canada. The feeling of course, is of a past Canada, one that might long ago have been glimpsed from the windows of the early trains.

The SeaBus began operating from Waterfront in 1977, and in 1985, SkyTrain's original Expo Line began to use the station to carry passengers for Expo 86. The Millennium Line opened in 2002 and in 2009 the Canada Line opened, connecting Waterfront to the airport.

This out-of-focus view reflects my dreamy feeling about the railways of the past. I love trains.